MEDITATING ON GOD’S WORD

I enjoy studying the word of God. As a matter of fact, I set aside time each morning to study from His holy teachings. However, some days seem to be more productive in my understanding than others. Why? I chalk some of it up to my focus on His word during my study. All too often, I’m more concerned about the “quantity” of my study, not the “quality.” That got me to thinking about a few verses found in the book of Psalms on the idea of “meditating” on God’s word.

Meditating carries with it more than mere reading. It means to think on what’s being said, considering carefully what it means and making proper application. Webster’s defines it as “to focus one’s thoughts on; reflect on or ponder over.” In other words, it’s a serious look at the Lord’s teachings and taking them to heart (putting them into practice). In Psalm 1:2, the blessed man “delights in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.” In a similar train of thought, Psalm 119:15-16 explains how one should seek the Lord by saying, “I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.” Later in the same Psalm we read the following: “Oh, how I
love Your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97).

As we consider our studies in God’s inspired word, may we truly meditate on His teachings and come away with a better
appreciation and understanding of how He wants us to live for Him. I think the words of German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer sum this up well when he says, “Why do I meditate? Because I am a Christian. Therefore, every day in which I do not penetrate more deeply into the knowledge of God’s Word in Holy Scripture is a lost day for me. I can only move forward with certainty upon the firm ground of the Word of God.